Kukla's Korner Hockey

John Davidson sat in the Columbus Blue Jackets locker room recently and talked about the team’s new division (“it’s fan-friendly”), about how tough the sport is and how much he loves hockey and its history.

The team’s president of hockey operations was informal, warm and genuine, but he wasn’t shooting the breeze with players or coaches. He was shooting the latest in a series of television commercials that are part of the NHL team’s new marketing campaign.

And, in large part because of Davidson’s skills as a broadcaster, the marketing campaign is already working well, said John Browne, the Blue Jackets’ chief marketing officer.

“John speaks with such credibility, such honesty, the way he connects with people is wonderful,” Browne said. “He’s money.”